Murder probe after boy, 12, fatally injured

Detectives launched a murder inquiry today after a 12-year-old boy was found fatally injured at his home.

Emergency services went to the property in Barking, east London, after the child's mother dialled 999 at about 10.30pm last night.

The youngster was taken by ambulance to an east London hospital, but pronounced dead a short time later.

The woman, aged 44, was arrested on suspicion of murder following medical examinations at the same hospital.

A second boy, aged 11, was also discovered at the property, unharmed.

He has been taken into the care of social services.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Child Abuse Major Investigation Team are responsible for the inquiry.

It is understood that the dead boy had visible injuries and a post-mortem examination will take place later today.

He was not stabbed or shot.

Police declined to give further details of the location of the murder as they tried to trace the boy's next of kin.